Pickup crashes into 24-hour Western Bagel, grazing officer who stopped for coffee
Pickup crashes into 24-hour Western Bagel, grazing officer who stopped for coffee
Two Los Angeles Police Department officers were counting their blessings Thursday after nearly being struck by a pickup truck whose young driver lost control and struck the side of a 24-hour bagel shop in Van Nuys.
Police responded en masse to “an officer needs help” call at the Western Bagel store and factory at 7814 Sepulveda Blvd., near Stagg Street, around 1:45 a.m. Thursday after the pickup slammed into the side of the business, according to police.
The vehicle ended up halfway inside the building, LAPD Officer Norma Cervantes told City News Service.
Valley Traffic Division Officer Jeff Smith told a videographer at the scene that the vehicle broke a water main and possibly damaged a gas line.
The officers, both from the Mission Station, had stopped for a cup of coffee when the pickup approached from behind.
Security video aired by Fox11 showed the officers leaping out of the way of the speeding pickup, which comes perilously close to hitting one of them as he falls to the ground.
He was grazed by the pickup but not seriously injured, Smith said.
The pickup was being followed by a tow truck as it was driven erratically north on Sepulveda toward Stagg Street, Smith said.
The wrecker’s driver was honking his horn trying to get the pickup driver to stop, to no avail.
The pickup driver made an abrupt turn and nearly hit the officers, according to Smith.
Four people traveling in the vehicle were initially taken into custody.
The driver was arrested and taken to the Mission Station. It was not clear what possible charges he faces.
Two girls who were rear seat passengers were taken to the LAPD’s Mission Station before being released to their parents, Smith said. A third passenger was released at the scene.
The Valley Traffic Division was investigating the crash, while Mission Station officers handled the suspect driver’s arrest, Smith said.
The Western Bagel location on Sepulveda Boulevard is the company’s longtime headquarters and is well-known among San Fernando Valley residents. The tall silos sporting the bagel giant’s logo are used in the company’s extensive co-packing business, which accounts for about two-thirds of its overall income, according to Forbes.
Daily News staff contributed to this report.
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